Cape Neddick Lobster Pound – Cape Neddick, Maine

I find it so much more disappointing when a gorgeous view is accompanied by a mediocre lobster roll. I guess I just think that all great views should be accompanied by outstanding food. To do otherwise feels like a crime against humanity, or amazing views, or something. I’m exceedingly sorry to say that Cape Neddick fell into this category. Again, I feel really strangely bad reporting that it was not a lobster roll I will find myself craving. When I have a lousy lobster roll at any other place, it doesn’t pain me to say I didn’t particularly like it, but with this view, ugh.

I was actually just going to do a quick takeout order and be on my way since this is a sit down restaurant and I really just want to try the lobster roll, not fool them into thinking I plan to engage in a whole dinner experience. But, once I walked in and saw the expansive view through the wrap around, two story windows, looking out on the lovely river all around, I just had to stay. They also have a full bar, being a full service restaurant and all, so that certainly didn’t hurt either. We were seated at a cute table right by the window. The tables here are all spread out enough that you don’t feel like other people’s conversations are invading your personal space, very pleasant. Our waitress was great, super helpful, answered all my questions while staying very friendly. She said that their lobster roll was amazing, huge and that the lobster meat for it was picked right there, right before the shift. I was so excited I could barely contain myself, always a setup for a letdown.

The lobster roll arrived and well, it was indeed large, more of a foot long hot dog roll, not split top, but that’s fine by me. However, it looked more like a crab roll. That is to say, completely white, slathered in mayo and shredded. Trying very hard not to judge a lobster roll by it’s cover, I have had some very tasty, ugly ones (Markey’s), I took a bite. Sadly, it was exactly how it looked, tons of mayo, so much that I honestly can’t tell you how the tastiness of the meat was. It was fully disguised in mayo and the chunks were so small, that wiping off the mayo for a taste was a futile effort. There was also a piece of lettuce and chives or parsley mixed in. I did confirm a piece of tail meat involved, so I believe her that it was fresh picked. But, this just proves, that restaurants can manage to kill even the best setup. The view, the very fresh picked meat, it still disappoints me just to talk about it. I imagine the meat was probably excellent because I did still manage to eat a decent amount of it and it didn’t taste bad, just really, really mayoey. I left feeling somewhat ill because that much mayo sits in my stomach like a rock. Thank goodness they serve sav blanc, which did offset it somewhat.

All was not lost. Ken’s swordfish tips were fantastic and very fresh. The were also served with fiddlehead ferns. If you’re not familiar with them, they are the greatest vegetable known to man and are only available in New England for about two weeks out of the year. They’re a bit of a cross in flavor between asparagus and broccoli and look like a cute little swirly disk. It really kills me that this lobster roll was what it was because everything else was so good, the view, the service, the fish, the fiddlehead ferns, even the onion rings. This place is absolutely worth visiting, but not for the lobster roll, maybe I’ll order a lobster dinner next time and be disappointed that fiddlehead ferns are out of season

From your photo I can agree that there’s too much sauce on the lobster. I can’t understand why you’re complaining about little or no tail meat – the tail is the least tasty part of the lobster. The best tasting meat is in the body above the legs, the knuckle and the claws in that order. The tail is for people who don’t have any taste or are too lazy to pick the rest of the lobster.

My wife and I have been on a quest to find the “perfect” lobster roll; this will be our third season of scouting. So glad to have found your blog and what appears to be another great, albeit, subjective resource. And isn’t writing about food of any kind fraught with subjectivity? I will say, however that blogs like this one are several rungs up the food rating ladder because you’ve developed your own criteria, have certain standards for what makes one roll superior to another, and you get out and get it done! You also write well, which is important in my own subjective ratings of food reviews.

We were at Cape Neddick last spring for my wife’s birthday. Beautiful views and my wife avoided the lobster roll (which was wise, based upon your review).

I do subscribe to your view/quality scale; it’s a helpful tool.

Reading back through your back posts, I’ve noted several places we haven’t been to, although most of our experience is north of Kittery.

I have been relying on Mike Urban’s book on lobster shacks in New England. Found it to be a little sketchy when we were on the Cape last month.

Keep on braking for lobster rolls. I will be following your summer adventures in tasting.